Washington, December 4 (RHC)-- Cuba and the United States have advanced negotiations on civil aviation, involving the flagship airlines of the two countries and aimed at restoring scheduled airline service.

A high-ranking U.S. official has said that following two days of negotiations this week in Havana, the two sides expect to reach a final agreement on the issue before the end of the year.

In statements to the British magazine The Economist, Edward Alex Lee, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs, said American Airlines and Cubana de Aviación are likely to sign a code-share agreement.

According to Associated Press, the U.S. official said that such an agreement would prevent Cubana de Aviación planes from being seized upon landing in the United States due to blockade regulations.